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England skipper backs opener
Cricket, 10:36, December 26, 2009 ,
Mis-firing opener Alastair Cook has been backed by England captain Andrew Strauss going into the second Test against South Africa.
Cook endured a disappointing first Test at Centurion with scores of 15 and 12 in the draw. However Strauss said he has no problem with his fellow opener, who celebrated his 25th birthday on Christmas Day.
He said: "I am happy with the way he is playing and happy with some of the adjustments he has made.
"There are times when cricket is tough but I know Alastair has the character and temperament to come through it."
Strauss added: "I have been through it and just about every member of our batting unit has been through it at one stage or another.
"What it boils down to is how much you are willing to guts it out and I know that Alastair will do that. I'm not overly concerned by the way he is playing or anything like that.
"I think he is playing nicely and it's just one Test match. I think it is always wrong to judge people on the basis of two innings because you can get a couple of good balls and unfortunately that is the way the game is."
England went into the Boxing Day Test in Durban resisting the temptation to drop Ian Bell and bring in an extra bowler, while the Proteas made one change with Dale Steyn in for Friedel de Wet, despite his impressive display in the first Test.